Rack system and support member for supporting a folding rack in a dishwasher

ABSTRACT

A support member is provided that includes a body defining a first channel configured to engage a main spine of a folding rack and a second channel perpendicularly disposed with respect to the first channel and configured to engage a wire member of a dishwasher rack so as to secure the folding rack thereto. The body further defines an aperture configured to receive therethrough one of a plurality of tines of the folding rack. The aperture can define horizontal and vertical support portions configured to support the tine when the folding rack is in folded and unfolded positions, respectively. The aperture can further define an arcuate channel extending between the horizontal support portion and the vertical support portion, the arcuate channel being configured to axially displace the tine along the longitudinal axis as the tine is moved between the horizontal support portion and the vertical support portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 60/916,073 filed on May 4, 2007, which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a racksystem and support member for supporting a folding rack in a washingappliance, such as a dishwasher.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional dishwashers typically include one or more wire racks forholding, for example, dishware, glassware, or cookware. In order tofacilitate the loading and retention of the items to be washed in thedishwasher, each rack may include one or more tines extending generallyvertically upward from the rack. For example, where such tines areprovided in an upper rack of the dishwasher, the tines may be used tosupport cups, glasses, or other similar items. However, in someinstances, it may be desirable to fold the tines, to a position wherethe tines are substantially flush with the rack, so as to accommodateother items (i.e., a baking pan) which may not necessarily need thesupport of the tines.

The tines may be provided in rows, wherein each row of tines is formedas a single piece unit with the tines extending from a main spine.Furthermore, in some such rack configurations, two rows of such tinesmay be configured to rotate about the axis of each spine so as to foldtoward each other. However in conventional dishwashers the tinesextending from adjacent main spines may be regularly spaced along eachmain spine so that the two rows of tines can cooperate to support asingle item, such as a plate. Therefore, the tines extending from suchadjacent and rotatable (i.e. foldable) main spines may interfere witheach other when the two rows are folded to be substantially flush withthe rack.

Thus, there exists a need for an apparatus that allows adjacent rows oftines to be aligned with each other when in an unfolded position, butwhich also do not interfere with each other when the rows of tines arefolded to be substantially flush with the rack. There further exists aneed for such an apparatus that can be implemented with existingdishwasher racks with relatively low-cost and easily-installedcomponents.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, a dishwasher rack system is provided. The dishwasher racksystem includes a dishwasher rack having a wire member and a foldingrack having a main spine extending along a longitudinal axisperpendicularly to the wire member of the dishwasher rack and aplurality of tines spaced apart and extending perpendicularly from themain spine. The dishwasher rack system also includes a support memberoperably engaged between the dishwasher rack and the folding rack. Thesupport member defines a first channel configured to engage the mainspine of the folding rack, such that the main spine is rotatable withrespect to the first channel about the longitudinal axis such that thefolding rack is movable between a folded position and an unfoldedposition with respect to a dishwasher rack. The support member alsodefines a second channel perpendicularly disposed with respect to thefirst channel and configured to engage a wire member of the dishwasherrack so as to secure the folding rack thereto. In some cases, the firstchannel can be configured to engage a second wire member. The supportmember further defines an aperture configured to receive one of theplurality of tines of the folding rack therethrough. The aperturedefines a horizontal and a vertical support portion configured tosupport the tine when the folding rack is in the folded and unfoldedpositions, respectively. The aperture also defines an arcuate channelextending between the horizontal support portion and the verticalsupport portion, the arcuate channel being configured to axiallydisplace the tine along the longitudinal axis as the tine is movedbetween the horizontal support portion and the vertical support portion.

In some embodiments, the support member can be formed from aninjection-molded polymer, or can be machined from a polymer blank. Inother embodiments, the support member may include one or more resilientprojections defining the second channel for engaging the wire member ofthe dishwasher rack so as to secure the folding rack thereto. In stillother embodiments, the plurality of tines can include a curved section,for example, as where the plurality of tines includes a first straightsection extending from the spine, a curved section extending from thefirst straight section, and a second straight section extending from thecurved section. In yet other embodiments, the plurality of tines canrotate approximately 90 degrees when the folding rack is moved from thefolded position to the unfolded position.

In some embodiments, the dishwasher rack system may further include asecond folding rack comprising a second plurality of tines and a secondmain spine. Individual tines of the second plurality of tines can besubstantially straight. Individual tines of the plurality of tines canhave corresponding tines on the second plurality of tines. The pluralityof tines can be axially offset from the second plurality of tines whenthe folding rack is in the folded position but not axially offset fromthe second plurality of tines when the folding rack is in the unfoldedposition. A second support member can be operably engaged between thedishwasher rack and the second folding rack, the support member causingthe folding rack to be displaced a first distance in a first directionand the second support member causing the second folding rack to bedisplaced a second distance in a second direction, either the firstdistance being not equal to the second distance or the first directionbeing different from the second direction. The second plurality of tinescan maintain an axial disposition when the second folding rack is foldedso as not to be axially displaced upon folding of the second foldingrack.

In another aspect, a support member is provided for operably engaging afolding rack of a dishwasher, where the folding rack is movable betweena folded position and an unfolded position with respect to a dishwasherrack and having a main spine extending along a longitudinal axis and aplurality of tines spaced apart and extending perpendicularly from themain spine. The support member includes a body defining a first channelconfigured to engage the main spine of the folding rack, such that themain spine is rotatable with respect to the first channel about thelongitudinal axis, and a second channel perpendicularly disposed withrespect to the first channel and configured to engage a wire member ofthe dishwasher rack so as to secure the folding rack thereto. The bodyfurther defines an aperture configured to receive therethrough one ofthe plurality of tines of the folding rack. The aperture can define ahorizontal support portion configured to support the one of theplurality of tines when the folding rack is in the folded position and avertical support portion configured to support and secure the tine whenthe folding rack is in the unfolded position. The aperture can furtherdefine an arcuate channel extending between the horizontal supportportion and the vertical support portion, the arcuate channel beingconfigured to axially displace the tine along the longitudinal axis asthe tine is moved between the horizontal support portion and thevertical support portion.

In some embodiments, the body may include one or more resilientprojections defining the second channel for engaging the wire member ofthe dishwasher rack so as to secure the folding rack thereto. In otherembodiments, the aperture can be configured to receive therethrough oneof a plurality of tines comprising a curved section. In still otherembodiments, the aperture can be configured to receive therethrough oneof a plurality of tines that rotates approximately 90 degrees when thefolding rack is moved from the folded position to the unfolded position.

Thus, the various embodiments of the present invention provide manyadvantages that may include, but are not limited to: providing a clipmember for operably engaging a folding rack with a wire member of adishwasher rack such that the tines of adjacent folding racks may beaxially adjustable relative to one another when the folding racks aredisposed in a folded position relative to the dishwasher rack; providinga dishwasher rack system employing a low-cost polymeric clip that iscapable of axially adjusting a position of a folding rack as the foldingrack is moved to a folded position relative to a dishwasher rack; andproviding a relatively simple mechanical clip member for a folding rackthat may be easily manufactured via injection molding or otherhigh-volume manufacturing processes while still providing for the axialadjustment of the folding rack.

These and other advantages are provided by various embodiments of thepresent invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Having thus described various embodiments of the invention in generalterms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, whichare not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a non-limiting photograph of an exemplary clip member operablyengaged between a folding rack and a dishwasher rack, according to oneembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a non-limiting perspective view of an exemplary clip member,according to one embodiment of the present invention, comprising a bodydefining apertures for receiving a main spine of a folding rack, a wiremember of a dishwasher rack, and a rotatable tine extending outward fromthe main spine of the folding rack.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Various embodiments of present invention now will be described morefully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in whichsome, but not all embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed, theinvention may be embodied in many different forms and should not beconstrued as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, theseembodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicablelegal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

As shown generally in FIG. 1, some embodiments of the present inventionprovide a support member, such as clip member 1, adapted for operablyengaging a folding rack 20 of a dishwasher. The folding rack 20 mayinclude a main spine 21 extending along a longitudinal axis 22 and aplurality of tines 23 spaced apart and extending perpendicularly fromthe main spine 21. As shown generally in FIGS. 1 and 2 the clip member 1may comprise a body defining a first channel 3 adapted to engage themain spine 21 of the folding rack 20, such that the main spine 21 isrotatable (see element 30, FIG. 1, for example) with respect to thefirst channel 3 about the longitudinal axis 22 such that the foldingrack 20 is movable between a folded position (see generally, FIG. 1) andan unfolded position (see generally, FIG. 2, showing a tine 23 disposedin the vertical support portion 5 b of the aperture 5 defined in thebody of the clip member 1) with respect to a dishwasher rack 10.

As shown generally in FIG. 2, the body of the clip member 1 furtherdefines a second channel 2 perpendicularly disposed with respect to thefirst channel 3 and adapted to engage a wire member 11 of the dishwasherrack 10 so as to rotatably secure the folding rack 20 to the dishwasherrack 10 (as shown in FIG. 1). In some embodiments, the body of the clipmember 1 may comprise one or more resilient projections 7 defining thesecond channel 2 for engaging the wire member 11 of the dishwasher rack10 so as to secure the folding rack 20 thereto. In the illustratedembodiment, the first channel 3 has a height that receives both the mainspine 21 of the folding rack 20 and a parallel underlying wire member 11of the main dishwasher rack 10. However, the clip member 1 does not needto be clipped to a dishwasher rack 10 at the intersection of two wiremembers 11, and the second channel 2 can secure the clip member to thedishwasher rack by way of a single crossing wire member or othersupporting feature of the dishwasher rack.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the body of the clip member 1 further definesan aperture 5 adapted to receive one of the plurality of tines 23 of thefolding rack 20 therethrough. As shown in FIG. 2, the aperture 5 maydefine a horizontal support portion 5 a for supporting the tine 23 whenthe folding rack 20 is in the folded position (see FIG. 1) with respectto the dishwasher rack 10. Furthermore, the aperture 5 may furtherdefine a vertical support portion 5 b for supporting and securing thetine 23 when the folding rack 20 is in the unfolded position (i.e.wherein the tines 23 thereof extend vertically upward from thedishwasher rack 10) with respect to the dishwasher rack 10. As shown inFIG. 2, the vertical support portion 5 b may be further defined by oneor more substantially resilient projections 6 configured to extendsubstantially about an outer surface of the tine 23 when the tine 23 isdisposed in the vertical support portion 5 b so as to secure the tine 23when the folding rack 20 is in the unfolded position with respect to thedishwasher rack 10.

The aperture 5 may also define an arcuate channel 5 c extending betweenthe horizontal support portion 5 a and the vertical support portion 5 b.As shown generally in FIG. 1, the arcuate channel 5 c may be adapted toaxially displace the tine 23 along the longitudinal axis 22 as the tine23 is moved between the horizontal support portion 5 a and the verticalsupport portion 5 b. Thus, as shown in FIG. 1, when the tine 23 isdisposed in the horizontal support portion 5 a (i.e. when the foldingrack 20 is in the folded position relative to the dishwasher rack 10),the tine 23 may be axially offset from a corresponding tine 23 aextending from a main spine of an adjacent folding rack. In someembodiments, as shown generally in FIG. 2, the arcuate channel 5 c maybe defined by a sliding surface disposed on a body of the clip member 1such that the tine 23 may be smoothly and/or gradually urged along thelongitudinal axis 22 as the tine 23 is moved from the vertical supportportion 5 b to the horizontal support portion 5 a (and vice-versa). Itshould be noted that the sliding surface need not be part of closedarcuate channel 5 c as illustrated, and any type of cam surface could beused to effect the desired axial translation of the folding rack 20.

In various embodiments, the clip member 1 (and the various channels 2, 3and apertures 5 defined therein) may be formed using a correspondingvariety of manufacturing techniques. For example, in some embodiments,the body of the clip member 1 may be formed from an injection-moldedpolymer. In other exemplary embodiments, the body of the clip member 1may be machined from a polymer blank.

Some additional embodiments of the present invention may furthercomprise a complete dishwasher rack system (see generally, FIG. 1)comprising a dishwasher rack 10 comprising a wire member 11. The racksystem may also comprise a folding rack 20 comprising a main spine 21extending along a longitudinal axis 22 perpendicularly to the wiremember 11 of the dishwasher rack 10, and a plurality of tines 23 spacedapart and extending perpendicularly from the main spine 21. Furthermore,as shown in FIG. 1, such rack system embodiments of the presentinvention may comprise a clip member 1 (such as that described hereinwith respect to FIG. 2) operably engaged between the dishwasher rack 10and the folding rack 20. Furthermore, as described herein, the body ofsuch a clip member 1 may comprise an aperture 5 defining an arcuatechannel 5 c configured to receive at least one of the tines 23 of thefolding rack 3. As described herein, the arcuate channel 5 c may bedefined by a sliding surface disposed on the clip member 1 that isconfigured for axially displacing the tine 23 along the longitudinalaxis 22 as the tine 23 is moved back and forth between the horizontalsupport portion 5 a and the vertical support portion 5 b of the tineaperture 5.

Furthermore, the clip member 1 of the dishwasher rack system showngenerally in FIG. 1 may be configured to axially displace the tine 23along the longitudinal axis 22 as the tine 23 is moved back and forthbetween the horizontal support portion 5 a and the vertical supportportion 5 b of the tine aperture 5, such that when the tine 23 isdisposed in the horizontal support portion 5 a, the tine 23 may beaxially offset from a corresponding tine 23 a extending outward from anadjacent folding rack. Furthermore, according to various dishwasher racksystem embodiments, one or more clip members 1 may be operably engagedbetween the dishwasher rack 10 (and/or wire members 11 thereof) and oneor more folding racks 20 such that adjacent tines 23, 23 a extendingfrom corresponding adjacent folding racks 20 do not substantiallyinterfere with one another when the adjacent folding racks 20 aredisposed in a “flat” and/or folded position relative to the dishwasherrack 10.

The dishwasher rack system can include two folding racks 20 as notedabove. If these racks 20 are spaced far enough apart and theirrespective tines 23 are aligned, then the racks cooperate to supportlarge flat objects, such as dishes. However, to accommodate largeobjects, the two folding racks 20 may need to be spaced far enough apartthat they could not fold away from each other without striking a rimwire defining the upper edge of the dishwasher rack 10. Thus, theembodiments described herein provide a rack system having two spaced butaligned folding racks 20 that can be folded towards each other withoutinteference. One of the folding racks 20 may be provided with a clipmember 1 as described above while the other folding rack uses aconventional folding mechanism, or both of the folding racks 20 may beprovided with clip members 1 provided the clip members do not move thefolding racks in the same axial direction by the same axial distance.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forthherein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which theseinventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in theforegoing descriptions and the associated drawings. For example, whilethe embodiments discussed above have generally represented the supportmember as a clip member, other types of support members are alsopossible, including a support member formed as an integral part of orotherwise attached to one of the folding racks 20 or the dishwasher rack10. Therefore, it is to be understood that the inventions are not to belimited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications andother embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of theappended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they areused in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes oflimitation.

1. A support member for operably engaging a folding rack of a dishwasher, the folding rack being movable between a folded position and an unfolded position with respect to a dishwasher rack and having a main spine extending along a longitudinal axis and a plurality of tines spaced apart and extending perpendicularly from the main spine, the support member comprising: a body defining a first channel configured to engage the main spine of the folding rack, such that the main spine is rotatable with respect to the first channel about the longitudinal axis, a second channel perpendicularly disposed with respect to the first channel and configured to engage a wire member of the dishwasher rack so as to secure the folding rack thereto, and an aperture configured to receive therethrough one of the plurality of tines of the folding rack, the aperture defining a horizontal support portion configured to support the one of the plurality of tines when the folding rack is in the folded position, a vertical support portion configured to support and secure the one of the plurality of tines when the folding rack is in the unfolded position, and an arcuate channel extending between the horizontal support portion and the vertical support portion, the arcuate channel being configured to axially displace the one of the plurality of tines along the longitudinal axis as the one of the plurality of tines is moved between the horizontal support portion and the vertical support portion.
 2. A support member according to claim 1, wherein the body is formed from an injection-molded polymer.
 3. A support member according to claim 1, wherein the body is machined from a polymer blank.
 4. A support member according to claim 1, wherein the body comprises one or more resilient projections defining the second channel for engaging the wire member of the dishwasher rack so as to secure the folding rack thereto.
 5. A support member according to claim 1, wherein the aperture is configured to receive therethrough one of a plurality of tines comprising a curved section.
 6. A support member according to claim 5, wherein the aperture is configured to receive therethrough one of a plurality of tines comprising a first straight section extending from the spine, the curved section extending from the first straight section, and a second straight section extending from the curved section.
 7. A support member according to claim 1, wherein the aperture is configured to receive therethrough one of a plurality of tines that rotates approximately 90 degrees when the folding rack is moved from the folded position to the unfolded position.
 8. A support member according to claim 1, wherein the first channel is configured to engage a second wire member.
 9. A dishwasher rack system comprising: a dishwasher rack comprising a wire member; a folding rack comprising a main spine extending along a longitudinal axis perpendicularly to the wire member of the dishwasher rack and a plurality of tines spaced apart and extending perpendicularly from the main spine; and a support member operably engaged between the dishwasher rack and the folding rack, the support member defining a first channel configured to engage the main spine of the folding rack, such that the main spine is rotatable with respect to the first channel about the longitudinal axis such that the folding rack is movable between a folded position and an unfolded position with respect to a dishwasher rack, wherein the support member further defines a second channel perpendicularly disposed with respect to the first channel and configured to engage a wire member of the dishwasher rack so as to secure the folding rack thereto, wherein the support member further defines an aperture configured to receive one of the plurality of tines of the folding rack therethrough, the aperture defining a horizontal support portion configured to support the one of the plurality of tines when the folding rack is in the folded position, a vertical support portion configured to support and secure the one of the plurality of tines when the folding rack is in the unfolded position, and an arcuate channel extending between the horizontal support portion and the vertical support portion, the arcuate channel being configured to axially displace the one of the plurality of tines along the longitudinal axis as the one of the plurality of tines is moved between the horizontal support portion and the vertical support portion.
 10. A dishwasher rack system according to claim 9, wherein the support member is formed from an injection-molded polymer.
 11. A dishwasher rack system according to claim 9, wherein the support member is machined from a polymer blank.
 12. A dishwasher rack system according to claim 9, wherein the support member comprises one or more resilient projections defining the second channel for engaging the wire member of the dishwasher rack so as to secure the folding rack thereto.
 13. A dishwasher rack system according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of tines comprises a curved section.
 14. A dishwasher rack system according to claim 13, wherein the plurality of tines comprises a first straight section extending from the spine, the curved section extending from the first straight section, and a second straight section extending from the curved section.
 15. A dishwasher rack system according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of tines rotates approximately 90 degrees when the folding rack is moved from the folded position to the unfolded position.
 16. A dishwasher rack system according to claim 9, wherein the first channel is configured to engage a second wire member.
 17. A dishwasher rack system according to claim 9, further comprising: a second folding rack comprising a second plurality of tines and a second main spine; wherein individual tines of the plurality of tines have corresponding tines on the second plurality of tines; wherein the plurality of tines are axially offset from the second plurality of tines when the folding rack is in the folded position; and wherein the plurality of tines are not axially offset from the second plurality of tines when the folding rack is in the unfolded position.
 18. A dishwasher rack system according to claim 17, further comprising: a second support member operably engaged between the dishwasher rack and the second folding rack; wherein the support member causes the folding rack to be displaced a first distance in a first direction; wherein the second support member causes the second folding rack to be displaced a second distance in a second direction; and wherein either the first distance is unequal to the second distance or the first direction is different from the second direction.
 19. A dishwasher rack system according to claim 17, wherein the second plurality of tines maintains an axial disposition when the second folding rack is folded.
 20. A dishwasher rack system according to claim 19, wherein individual tines of the second plurality of tines are substantially straight. 